Mixie - (Registered Name: Just Moonstuck)
February 12, 1996 – June 21, 2023
Mixie crossed The Rainbow Bridge on a beautiful summer day.
Mixie came to CTR with her best friend, Kay a Welsh pony, in November 2018. She began her working career in training as a fox hunter. When she showed that she didn’t like the work, she became part of a car deal on the Eastern Shore of Delaware and was brought to Harford County, where she became a family horse on a cattle farm.
Born an Appaloosa, Mixie was chestnut as a foal. As she grew up, her coat became more roan, then eventually “flea bit” or freckled. She retained her chestnut coloring on her ears and her lower legs. Mixie had a leisurely life as a family horse and was a favorite mount with her little girls. Once the girls grew up and moved on with their adult lives, her owners wanted her to have a meaningful career and the opportunity to continue to be in the lives of children, teaching them to ride. That’s when we got the call that Mixie and her friend, Kay, were available.
Mixie always greeted every horse and person that walked in the barn. She was “in love” with every gelding and even got along with the mares. She was wonderful and patient with our riders who were learning independent riding skills and could be trusted to keep them safe.
Even when uveitis diminished her eyesight, she was able to work in unmounted lessons, teaching countless children and adults how to properly brush a horse. She would stand for hours on end, patiently enjoying extended grooming sessions. Our veterans especially appreciated her because they could relate to finding usefulness, despite having health issues.
Aging is tough on horses. Mixie began to develop a host of health problems with edema in her hind legs and difficulty in maintaining a healthy weight. Those health issues, coupled with her lack of sight, caused us great concern for her overall safety and quality of life. Our team lovingly decided in consultation with our veterinarian that helping Mixie transition was the best choice for her, despite our hearts being broken.
After one more night with her best friend, Kay, Mixie was humanely euthanized on a gentle, warm summer afternoon in the pasture she loved, surrounded by her horse friends and people who loved her dearly. She crossed peacefully and with dignity.
Rest easy, Mixie. You were the very best girl and you were loved your whole life.
“My troubles are all over, and I am at home; and often before I am quite awake, I fancy I am still in the orchard at Birtwick, standing with my friends under the apple trees.”
― Anna Sewell, Black Beauty
